TRUE’s Guide to Shopping Sales
Expand your closet without emptying your bank account.
If you constantly find yourself flipping through fashion magazines for the latest trends, jumping back and fourth between the open tabs of clothing sites on your computer, and frequenting your mall and local boutiques way more than you should be, you’re probably a shopaholic (but, in your defense, who isn’t these days). Whether this title is self-proclaimed or given to you by others, you can’t deny being obsessed with the feeling you get after scoring a chic new item you’ve been dying to have, while often disregarding other factors – such as the fact that you spent your entire paycheck on one pair of shoes…whoops! Luckily, there are ways you can satisfy your shopping desires without breaking the bank! All you have to do is shop smart, shop savvy, and know your sales. Retailors don’t mark down items and put them on sale for no reason – there’s a science to it, and we have all the answers! So, if you’re a bona fide shopaholic, or even if you’re not and just want to get the most bang for your buck, learn the tricks of the trade from TRUE’s Guide to Shopping Sales.
Wait for Sales to Come to YOU
Merchandise in stores is constantly changing, so shop owners can’t afford to allow old items to take up space on their racks and shelves. This is why your typical retail store gives new items six to eight weeks to hang on the racks before it receives a mark down. After this time, each item might only have a few remaining, causing their display to look empty and in need of replenishing. Therefore, these items are moved to the sale or clearance section (usually found in the very back of the store). In the sale and clearance sections, these items can be scooped up by smart savvy shoppers – make sure you’re one of them!
Know What Day of the Week to Shop
If you want first dibs on an item of clothing you’ve been eyeing for the last few weeks, check out its price in the store on a Thursday. Stores realize that the most popular shopping days are Friday through Sunday, so they begin their markdowns and clothing rotations on Thursday to prepare for the weekend shoppers. By waiting until the weekend is almost over, you might not be able to score a great deal due to a possible limited selection. Thursdays give you the best selection along with a great price to score the deals you’ve been waiting for.
Shop End of Season Markdowns
Hands down the best time to get the most for your money is to shop for items at the end of a season. You won’t be able to sport that new item of clothing for the entire season, but keep in mind that retail stores are a couple of months ahead of the weather, so you can still get about a month’s worth of wear before it’s time to pack it away for a year. With that being said, while you can still find sales at the end of spring and fall, these items usually can still be worn through summer and winter, so sales in late January and late August at the end of winter and summer will offer the greatest deals.
Shop Holiday Sales
Almost every holiday comes along with great clothing sales – the most obvious being Black Friday. However, a holiday related sale can be found any season, so take advantage of them! Looking for some new items for the upcoming spring season? Memorial Day offers awesome sales for spring styles!
Shop Back to School Sales
Retailers know that along with kids going back to school in need of a new wardrobe, many adults are also using this time of the year to update their wardrobe from summer styles to fall ones. Because of this, sales and markdowns can be found for both adult and children clothing, usually starting around early August to early September.
Allow the Sale Searching to be Done For You
Let sites such as Shop It To Me do the sale clothing shopping for you for free! Simply choose your favorite designers and brands and let the site do all the work for you by searching hundreds of online stores to find your favorite items on sale in your size.
Use Additional Coupons
An easy way to find out about sales going on as well as receiving additional coupons is by using sites such as Retail Me Not. This site provides shoppers with 500,000+ coupons for more than 50,000 stores and allows you the option to print them yourself or get them sent directly to your phone. It’s a simple way to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Know What to Buy
While shopping sales is extremely satisfying, don’t let these awesome prices persuade you into buying things you don’t need! Sure, those adorably chic heels may only be $10, but the foot cramps that come from them being a size too small won’t be worth the money spent. Don’t fall into the trap of buying things that aren’t your size just because they’re an incredible price. Stick to things you know will fit, and things you actually like. Searching for staple items that are guaranteed to be timeless wardrobe essentials is a good place to start.
